Takeda Pharmaceutical Company is one of the world’s largest biopharmaceutical firms with over 240 years of history. Focused on translating science into highly innovative medicines, Takeda specializes in therapeutic areas such as oncology, rare diseases, gastroenterology, neuroscience, and plasma-derived therapies. The company is also driving digital transformation and data innovation to improve patient outcomes and enhance operational efficiency.

In the first part of this two-part interview, Steve Winawer, Head of Data, Digital, and Technology (DD&T) for the US Business Unit at Takeda, speaks with Dave McEachern, Managing Director at AHEAD, about how Takeda is using generative AI and other advanced technologies — and why trust, data quality, and regulatory alignment are foundational to AI’s success.

Laying the groundwork for innovation

When Winawer joined Takeda four years ago, his focus was on establishing a rock-solid foundation for data and technology.

“The journey in my career, mirrored at an accelerated pace at Takeda, is about building a solid foundation—not just in terms of data and technology, but also in the trust and reputation of your team and your function,” Winawer explains. “That foundational focus allows us to go into all the next things we’re doing in innovation, AI, all of it.”

This approach means that before diving into AI solutions, the company ensures the underlying data and governance processes are strong enough to support reliable, scalable innovation.

From business problem to AI opportunity

Takeda’s AI adoption process starts with identifying a clear business problem and then assessing whether the data is ready to support it.

“We’ve got a number of business teams who go straight from ‘I understand the problem I want to solve’ to asking, ‘Do we have the data in shape that would help us solve the problem?’” says Winawer.

If the data isn’t ready, Takeda focuses on shaping it—sometimes discovering that critical information is already publicly available, such as on government websites.

Navigating complex regulatory landscapes

Operating in the US means adapting to a growing patchwork of state-level data privacy laws. “Twenty-two states have passed their own unique and special regulations for data privacy,” notes Winawer. “We have a Digital Privacy Officer function at the center of the company, integrated into our governance, ensuring trustworthy AI and responsible data use.”

This involves reviewing patient consents, adapting processes to meet varying state requirements, and aligning data practices with both compliance obligations and patient expectations.

Balancing trust and performance

Takeda’s use of third-party digital data has evolved from the early days of inconsistent data quality to leveraging automation and AI tools for data verification and monitoring.

“The appetite of the solutions is ramping up just as quickly,” says Winawer. “You’ve got to put quality and reliability performance management at the back door so that as early and as far upstream as you can, you understand the reliability of that data.”

For Takeda, “trusted” data means information that is reliable enough to fuel AI engines with confidence.

CDO Magazine appreciates Steve Winawer for sharing his insights with our global community.